Nose Pinch not working...

Hi there,

In the last weeks, it happened to me around 2-3 times that I pinched my nose, being aware that "this could be" a dream, but didn't work and continued dreaming as if it was the real world. Even in situations where the surroundings felt weird, and I knew something was not right.

I'm well aware that RCs have to be done being really convinced that this could, indeed, be a dream, not just like "hey, maybe it's a dream, even if I'm pretty sure it isn't, but wouldn't it be fun? lets RC".

Tonight it's been even worse, as I found myself in jail for 24 months, and talked to my jail-mates about the fact that I can't recall a trial, I don't even know what crime I commited. It was a really long dream with lots of things happening, crystal clear... meetings explaining how to re-enter society, me reading a newspapper, taking a walk on the patio, going here and there... lots of things.

I went to talk with the director, explained my situation, and said to her: "I just can't remember anything... Do you know how I feel? It's like I was suddenly placed here, with no past memories... As if I suddenly I'm going to wake up and think... hey, it was a dream, now it makes sense". In that moment I just stoped and said: "Wait... wait... that's the only explanation possible.. wait a minute", and proceded to pinch my nose, and pressed really hard, tried to breathe two times, and I couldn't. I assumed it as real....

Just as curiosity, "two years later" I was released, and had to sit on the floor and cry when I saw a perfect sun rise with mountains in the background, while thinking that I just lost 2 years of my life.

As you can guess the stupidity feeling when waking up and got to the memory where I though "this could be a dream... oh too bad it isn't", was really big.

I'm not sure why I'm even writting this... maybe I need encouragement, or a bit of advice on what to do or think in those moments where I feel something weird, which seem to happen more lately.

I didn't do the finger through hand for many months, but I doubt that would work... any ideas, recommendations, etc.?

Thanks in advance!
Regards.

Hey,
ich wouldnt see this as a really bad thing. you seem to have long very vivid and realistic dreams. plus a good recall. this is a very good foundation. plus you think about lucid dreaming and are aware of your state. there is not much that is missing to get lucid and get lucid regularly.
i would do more then one RC while you are awake and take some more time for it. and really belief that you ARE dreaming and just want to confirm it. and maybe you do your rc with the "wrong" mindset. because you know you are awake and expect that you cant breath thru your nose and it gets confirmed. same in the dream.
i had too enough moments where i was pretty sure that i was dreaming did a nose pinch and couldnt breath or very little so i thought it doesnt work. i sometimes then was to stubborn and was like: no i am dreaming for sure. said it out loud and suddenly could breath like a charm.

maybe you should check out this thread: http://www.dreamviews.com/attaining-...ity-check.html to get some inspiration or a change of mindset.

+1. Bittersweet vivid epics can be absolutely amazing experiences. I would have to say congrats on having such an emotional, deep and present dream experience, even if somewhat disturbing, with great recall! The fact that you had such a dream means you are absolutely capable of high level amazing lucid dreams as well, so be comforted and be very happy about that!

I went through a period where nose pinch was less than 100% for me. I had to remember to really slow down, pinch hard, and try to breathe. I would make sure that I did it several times. I would also assume that any slightly ambiguous result meant: dream!

I also sometimes do another RC when nose pinch seems inconclusive (which is rare): gravity check. I hop up in to the air and see how long it takes for me to plop back down on the ground. Many times I will float down "too slowly" and conclude I'm dreaming.

Sageous :sageous: says that some dreams are fine just the way they are, without needing lucidity, to be fully immersive, "enjoyable" (in some way) experiences. I fully concur. Love all your dreams, and lucidity will come along more and more. Just keep up the day work (if you haven't read this thread yet on my take on LD practice, have a look and see what you think), and keep on dreaming!

I guess the problem with having such super realistic dreams is that all RCs could fail, just because your mind is capable of re-creating everything so accurately. Have you tried a digital clock?
Something you said could be a clue to another RC, and that is the fact that you couldn't remember the trial or your crime. Not remembering your recent past might work, or at least make you suspicious?

Thanks all for the replies.

@RelaxAndDream: Yeah maybe I was too focused on nose pinch (as it really worked several dreams + FAs), and I will have to try other RCs, as well as focus more on the nose pinch. For instance yesterday I had a couple moments at the office, while going to the bathroom and staying there, alone, where I though "hmm... what if this is a dream... I should RC", but at same time I was like "anyway I KNOW this is not a dream, I've been awake all day, I can remember what I did...", but then stoped myself and though "no, it COULD be... it's allways the same it-cant-be thing, but then I wake up".

@FryingMan: I'll take a look at that thread, thanks. And I agree with that quote from Sageous. I enjoy my dreams, and to be honest several times I woke up and laughed out loud when remembered scenes. But some of them are so weird or twisted that even make you think about your mental health!

@Goldenspark: Yeah, my mind several times betrayed me, giving false positives on RCs, or just making me "wake up" when I get lucid, and then when I really wake up realize I've been in zombie mode on another dream.

The dream I had that night was really weird and indeed I was suspicious, but as as I said I just assumed it as real. I can't describe the weirdness of the feeling. Not knowing WHY you are there, WHEN you got there, or even HOW. Later I think my brain started trying to create memories or something, because I remember that later in the dream I assumed that "maybe" it was for skipping my mandatory military service 18 years ago (when it was mandatory here). I remember telling an inmate something like "can you believe it... maybe it's because that thing almost 20 years ago! and I think there was this letter that told me I had to enter prison at certain date...". Sounds weird, but I had that strange feeling.

About the digital clock and numbers stuff, something I try to look at papers or the screen, and then look back again. Funny thing is that in this dream, before talking to the director, I was with a newspaper and read an obituary about 3 death kids, one a few months, another couple years, and the other one around 4, can't be sure. I said "f**k...", and the mates asked about what's wrong. When I tried to show them again it wasn't there. I could see lots of other obituaries (I remember I could read them well), but couldn't find that again. I found another one about another 2 twin babies, but not the other one. At that time I still wasn't even suspicious about anything yet.

Anyway I think that I need to be MORE suspicious about reality, without getting madness! :lol:

Physical RCs don't always work for me. Most of my Lucid Dreams came about because of assessing my situation. In my most vivid lucid dream, I had all of my fingers I could see my hands perfectly. Just because an RC fails, it doesn't mean that it's not a dream. But, of course, don't do anything crazy until you prove and know for a fact that it is a dream.